..leads Christian leaders to donate relief materials to IDPs, community

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, Evangelist Tor Uja, has urged the Federal Government to reconstruct Yelewata community after the devastation suffered by the people following the June 13 armed herdsmen attack on the community.

Evangelist Uja made the call when he led a delegation of interdenominational Christian leaders under the auspices of Remnant Christian Network to donate relief materials to victims of the attack in Yelewata and Makurdi Ultra Modern International Market temporary Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp.

He recommended the separation of herdsmen from crop farmers as a permanent solution to incessant attacks on communities by armed herders.

He noted that the Federal Government owe it a responsibility “to reconstruct the community into a modern town through the construction of at least 1,000 housing units, a modern market, hospitals, schools, provision of enhanced security as well as economic empowerment of indigenes.”

He stressed that it was the primary responsibility of government to protect lives and property and that since the Federal Government failed the people in that respect it must take up the task of constructing the community.

Evangelist Uja also urged the Benue State Government, international agencies, non-governmental organizations, Churches and public spirited individuals to play complimentary roles in the rehabilitation of the victims.

The Former Executive Secretary decried the prolonged keeping of attack victims in IDPs camps describing it as degrading saying displaced persons shouldn’t be kept in camps for more than one month.

He said “the victims could be distributed to other safe communities close to them and provided with land and farm inputs to continue with their farming livelihood.”

Receiving te delegation, the Yelewata community leader, Fidelis Dze thanked them for visiting the people and donating relief materials to alleviate their suffering.

Items donated at both places included 200 bags of rice, 100 bags of garri, 20 packs of bathroom slippers, 20 cartoons each of sugar and salt, 15 cartoons of detergents, 10 cartoons of bathing soap and assorted clothes.